Yaz Fan Since 67

When you go that deep in a rotation the starter ends up like the A's starter last night. Bullpen depth is better around baseball now, you have a better chance with those guys IMO over a terrible starter.

You know it's a weird season when discussing how the third base coach has turned around his season is a viable conversation. As I listen to the announcer go on about this team's accomplishments he was interrupted twice as the Red Sox rifled doubles down the line and circled the bases. What an amazing thing we are experiencing.

What is equally shocking is we have players that can actually execute a bunt. This has been lost in baseball for many many years. Durbin does remind me of Peddy. It was impossible to like him for me the first 2 months. I recognized his defense but his at bats were painful. For 2 months. Now I love this guy.

I think a lot of us felt this way, we can't win them all. But the way they are coming back now is so different than earlier in the season. They got down 3 in the 8th and they just looked like they were ready to get on the bus. So happy for Tracy. This was his big chance and he's winning. Chapman remains a concern and this can no longer be ignored.

Casas.....Casas...., Nope, name doesn't ring a bell.

Yeah I'm not understanding the hate, Moran's numbers this season are pretty good. And Weisert has had a number of strong outings recently. With the new addition I like our pen a lot.

I'm still concerned that Chapman does not have clean innings, there is always traffic.

He seems beat up, I was thinking last night they need to give Contreras a day off but this will sting.

Everyone knows we have 2 gold glovers in the outfield but what I've really enjoyed is watching our infield play defense. They make the tough play every night. Contraras is a big reason for that, so many errors in the past were throwing errors and their previous first basemen never bailed out the guy who made the bad throw. I know the SS's metrics are poor but I don't think he's so bad and the corners have been awesome. Hard hit balls are scooped up all the time, so many good double plays are being turned. Just a fun group to watch.

Agreed, I can't stand Story as my posts indicate. But I do believe he will be forced back into the lineup and we can only hope. I really don't trust Masa.

Imagine if just one of the following occurs in September and carries through the playoffs: Abreu gets hot again and puts up numbers that can carry a team like he does to start the season. Story returns (at DH) and does something similar. It's rare and it's been a while but it has happened. Rutschman returns to all star level play. Now we are looking at a really dangerous team. Let's assume everyone else returns to expected performances. Ceddanne and Durbin cool off but Duran gets back to where he has been the last 2 years, getting on base and created havoc. Everyone else stays the same. They would roll out a playoff team with a lineup that is much improved and would produce runs. Every one of their starting pitchers can be counted on for a solid outing, if one starts leaking oil Bello can come in and shut the door for 4 innings keeping them in the game. Assuming Guererro continues his magical ride the game is now we turned over to a guy who is throwing dancing 103 MPH sinkers and a left handed flame thrower before we get to Whit and Chapman. Even if he doesn't hit Rutschman behind the plate will turn one of the best defensive teams in baseball into perhaps the best. They have speed and have shown the ability to create runs by playing small ball, they can beat you in a number of ways. Pretty exciting and a post I never imagined writing a month ago.

That throw was a lolipop from 190 feet. Such a weak arm, I continue to be amazed at how poor outfield arms are today. You rarely see a throw at the plate, it's nearly always up the line even if the arm is strong. Someone posted that Durbin is the best defensive 3rd baseball in Red Sox history. I honestly can't think of a better one. I would like to personally apologize to Sonny Gray. After his first few starts I thought we had acquired a lemon. The beat goes on. How much fun is this?

Is this real life? I see I'm not the only one who thought of Money Ball last night. Are Duran and Abreu finally heating up? Imagine this team if that happens. Bello once again was amazing in relief, 3 perfect innings. Can we stop with the nonsense of forcing him as a starter again? It's obviously mental but I'm not buying the 4 days off to think about it theory. Was he not aware that he would be coming in after the opener several days before? Nobody can explain it, I say f*** it just use him in a role he excels at. I would go back to using him after the opener and make that part of the rotation, at least for the regular season. This will allow them to stretch out the starts of the young starters who are on innings restrictions. The guy who caught Durbin's grand slam appeared to be my age, I liked that. If Story every plays shortstop for this team again I'll be very disappointed, I'm fine with the shortstop play so far. If playing time is actually determined by performance as it is in other sports there is no way Trevor Story deserves to start. We are now the talk of baseball and have been for a while now. This feels so good after we were laughed at for months to start the season. New reliever was awesome. I loved this trade, I was done with Marco Mayer, and he is signed for 3 more years. What a great trade. I can't stand the way Sandoval pitches, nothing but junk balls. We still mismanage the ball/strike appeal system. Can't be out of challenges late in the game, This is very important to get right when the games really matter. Skubal took the loss in his debut. I'm still not over how we embarrassed the mighty Dodgers in their house.

Tek was the last all star catcher for the Sox, that was nearly 20 years ago. When was the last time our catcher could even be considered a good player? I loved Vaz and I guess he fits, but that's a stretch. This is in incredibly important position and RH's defense alone should get fans excited. If he can get healthy and they can extend him, and the O's tried and failed twice so no certainty, they could have very well landed a cornerstone player at a premium position for prospects who most often do not pan out. I just don't understand all the hate.

This is my take as well. We've seen first hand how prospects fail. A 3 time all star catcher in his prime is an incredibly valuable asset. I'd roll the dice that he becomes healthy and productive again over a few minor league players being better. I really don't understand why this is being called the worst trade in 30 years. I'm glad they are out of the Macro Mayer business. I never felt he was going to hit at the major league level and with so much invested they would have forced him into the lineup and he would continue to kill rallies.